Making It Earth Day In Your Home All Year Round

This year, Earth Day falls on Monday, April 22nd. The annual celebration of our planet is a reminder that we can all do more to protect our environment. And while it’s vital we all do our part to reduce waste, re-use certain items and recycle others, it’s also important to remember to cut down on pollution. Opting for public transit over driving your own car from time to time is helpful in that regard.

At home, Earth Day should be every day. Consider your
home your own little planet and think of the ways you can make it a healthier
place to live. For the most part, very simple changes to your daily routines
can mean the difference between constantly breathing in air pollutants and
living in a healthy environment.

Maintain a healthy humidity level.

During the colder months of the year, we tend to
turn the heat way up. Thankfully, with summer on the way, this shouldn’t be an
issue. However, where there is heat, there is often humidity. And where there
is humidity, there is moisture. So, with that said, it’s wise to keep tabs on
the humidity level in your home. Why? Moisture can create mould and mould can wreak
havoc on those with asthma and allergies.

“It is important to have a balance of humidity in living spaces,” insists Rinkesh on the Conserve Energy Future Blog, “This means a healthy humidity level of 30-50%. Mould and dust mites grow in areas where there is too much humidity. It is important to monitor this in both homes and businesses to improve indoor air quality.”

Do away with the air fresheners.

We know. We want our homes to smell as fresh as you
do yours. But, trust us, using scented cleaning products and air fresheners is
not the way to go. Those fresh scents are often indications that you’re
breathing in volatile organic compounds. Also known as VOCs, they are harmful
gases that are known to cause headaches and nausea as well as irritation of the
eyes, nose and throat.

“Long-term exposure can damage the liver, kidneys and central nervous system, and has been linked to cancer,” reports BoneStructure.ca, “These gases, which usually are released in the greatest amounts when a building is new and slowly dissipate over time, are likely the culprit behind ‘new house allergy syndrome’ – the phenomenon in which people experience allergy-like symptoms in a newly constructed home.”

Invest in house plants.

This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve recommended
house plants on our blog. And it’s not likely to be the last. In many of our
past blogs, we’ve highlighted the fact that NASA studies have found house
plants to be excellent pollutant removers. Adding house plants to your home
will help to purify the air you breathe.

As Rinkesh puts it, “house plants serve more than
one goal in this environment. These plants actually work to improve air
quality. You can place plants in various rooms of the home to achieve this
goal. Studies have shown that they help produce fresher air, as well.”

At DF Technical & Consulting Services Ltd., we like to think of ourselves as year-long Earth Day celebrators! For information about our many health-promoting services which include Air Quality Services and Moisture Monitoring Services, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-855-668-3131 or email info@dftechnical.ca.